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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

3 Ocala men behind bars after specialized drug enforcement strike team conducts sting

Three Ocala men are behind bars in the Marion County Jail on a litany of charges after they were nabbed during a recent drug trafficking sting.

In April, several agents from the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) came together after working numerous short-term investigations to identify a possible trend occurring within Ocala and Marion County. Agents were able to identify common links from within their investigations that led them to identify a large drug trafficking organization.

Lloyd Anthony Kinsler Jr., Ahmar Rashare Porter and Michael Lawrence Robinson

An initial investigation revealed that 40-year-old Lloyd Anthony Kinsler Jr. was involved in trafficking multiple drugs from within the residence including cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, which has been identified as the number one contributor in drug-related deaths in the county and the city.

As the investigation continued into July, 38-year-old Ahmar Rashare Porter and 44-year-old Michael Lawrence Robinson were linked to Kinsler, a UDEST report states. Both were identified as moving large quantifies of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

During the investigation Porter was identified as being the main source for the narcotics being distributed to both Robinson and Kinsler, who were believed to be actively selling narcotics throughout Ocala and other parts of Marion County.

As the investigation came to a conclusion on Oct. 9, three different locations were identified as the main distribution points for drug sales, manufacturing and delivery. Porter and Robinson were linked to two addresses, 2814 S.W. 16th St. and 5839 S.W. 43rd Street Rd., while Kinsler was linked to 2409 N.E. 3rd Ave. With the assistance of SWAT teams from both the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, search warrants were executed simultaneously at all three locations.

Robinson, Porter and Kinsler all were taken into custody without incident. They are being held on a total of 195 drug, weapons and other charges and are due in court over the next several months to answer to the charges.

Drugs, weapons and cash were seized in a recent sting conducted by agents from the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team. Three Ocala men – Lloyd Anthony Kinsler Jr., Ahmar Rashare Porter and Michael Lawrence Robinson – are behind bars in connection with the case.

Although the investigation is over, there are still 13 people with more than 100 charges still awaiting to be arrested. Agents are now focusing on locating and apprehending them.

UDEST Director Capt. Greg Martin said he’s quite proud of the hard work, dedication and commitment by everyone involved in the large-scale drug trafficking operation.

“I am very proud of the hard work, dedication and commitment of everyone involved,” Martin said. “This long-term investigation identified drug traffickers that were manufacturing and distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout the streets of our county and city.”

Martin added that another huge success of the sting was that 177 grams of raw fentanyl was recovered. An additional 15.5 grams of fentanyl/heroin was also collected.

Fentanyl overdoses are the number one killer from within the local community. UDEST agents are hoping that these arrests will slow the overdose pandemic taking place within Marion County communities.

The total weights and seizures of the investigation include:

  • Methamphetamine: 14.8 Pounds (6712.5 grams- nearly 7 kilos);
  • Cocaine: 192.21 grams;
  • MDMA: 28.5 grams;
  • Fentanyl: 177 grams;
  • Heroin/Fentanyl: 15.5 grams;
  • Marijuana: 11.5 Pounds (five kilos);
  • Oxycodone pills: 19 grams

The vehicles, weapons and cashed seized included:

  • 2019 Dodge Durango
  • 2019 Ford F-250;
  • 2014 Chrysler 300;
  • 2019 Ford Mustang GT;
  • Two AR-15 Assault rifles;
  • One handgun; and
  • More than $25,000 in cash.